Couple honored for support of recovery house in Stevens Point

By Brandi Makuski

A local couple has been recognized for supporting a drug recovery house.

Tom and Patti Cahill have been named the 2022 Rotary Club of Stevens Point Paul Harris Honorees. The couple owns and manages the Oxford House Riverside, located on the 1400 block of College Ave. in Stevens Point. The 10-bed House self-run house accepts only men, supporting their recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction.

Nationwide, over 2,000 Oxford Houses have been established since 1975. The Houses provide a low-cost method of preventing relapse.

According to the Oxford House website, it has established two Houses in Stevens Point and one in Plover. Representatives from each House meet monthly to share information, help resolve problems in a particular House, and express that Chapter’s vote on larger issues.

The men of Oxford House Riverside pay all the expenses related to the maintenance of the house, it said.

The Rotary Club of Stevens Point recently made a donation of $1,000 to the Rotary International Foundation in the Cahill’s name.

Continuing the legacy of Rotary’s founder, the Paul Harris Fellow program recognizes individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. The honor was established in 1957 to show appreciation for contributions that support Rotary’s Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant.

“We are honored to receive the Paul Harris Fellow,” said Patti Cahill, “but the real credit goes to the guys who live and work there.

The Rotary Club of Stevens Point was founded in 1907. The group is involved in the community through activities like cleaning a portion of the Green Circle Trail and a section of Highway B, and bell ringing for the Salvation Army.

Currently, it meets every Wednesday at noon in The Rose House, 1140 Clark St. Prospective members are welcome to attend.